On a side note the replacement filter screen that comes with the gaskets is a cheap aluminum facsimile of the original stainless steel one. AVOID THIS REPLACEMENT PRODUCT. It states it is made in Italy but looks Chinese. You will be disappointed. The man with the moustache is Renato Bialetti, the son of the inventor of the Moka, Alfonso. It was designed in 1953 by the Italian artist Paul Campani Periodically clean the internal sides of the column in the top part of the pot ensuring no build up of coffee residues. It works in exactly the same way as a classic stovetop espresso maker (put water in the bottom chamber, freshly ground coffee in the middle, heat on the stove to send coffee bubbling up into the top chamber) – but is sleekly made from high-quality 18/10 stainless steel rather than the classic faceted aluminium. Can I produce one "shot" in a 6-cup pot? Sometimes I'd like to produce enough for two drinks, and sometimes just enough for one. Would a 4-cup or 6-cup be more suitable?

Bialetti’s legacy of quality and reliability lives on in these lines of coffee makers crafted in high-quality 18/10 stainless with ergonomic, heat-resistant handles. Now everyone can have the beverages they crave and a look they love. If you’ve ever used (or even seen) a stovetop espresso maker, it’s thanks to the founder of this company, Alfonso Bialetti, who invented the classic aluminium moka pot in 1933. Ever since then, Bialetti have focused on marrying world-renowned Italian style with equally famous Italian coffee, creating a range of espresso and coffee makers that deliver an amazing brew.

For those preferring a smoother coffee taste, Bialetti’s stainless stove-top pots embody our legendary ease-of-operation in sleek contemporary designs. How much stronger is the coffee than drip? I know it can't get to espresso strength. Will it be different in any other ways compared to drip, like texture?

Your Bialetti Venus is cleansed by rinsing every component with simple water. Do not use any detergent. Dishwasher-use is not recommended. The instructions say not to use detergents, but I've seen a fair bit of argument about this for both aluminum and stainless steel. Do you use soap on your stainless steel moka pots? The argument that you don't want coffee oils hanging out in the pot and going rancid makes sense to me, so I have been using soap.

The most popular of our stainless steel stovetops, the Bialetti Venus produces the same authentic Italian espresso, using the same brewing technique, as the original Moka Express. Venus is the ultimate combination of tradition and innovation: the original induction-ready Coffee Maker, preparing an authentically aromatic Italian coffee, in a unique design shape